PTSD warning for 4th of July

You see this


They see this

For 4th of July, War Vets Seek Peace and Quiet
Julie Sullivan


Chicago Tribune

Jul 02, 2008
July 2, 2008, Portland, OR - The "Minefield" explodes with glittering red tips. "War and Peace" unloads alternating rounds of color and fire. "The Torrent" promises "360 degrees of pyro" in a spectacular barrage.

As Americans stock up on 4th of July fireworks with battlefield themes, those with actual war experience are adopting safety plans instead. Combat veterans say they are heading to quiet campsites, small family gatherings or basements. They'll pre-stage their dreams before bed, visualizing different endings.

Depression, anxiety and drinking all spike around the 4th of July, counselors say. "This time of year is stressful —period," said Jim Sardo, a two-tour military psychologist who manages the PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, Clinical Team and Substance Abuse Services at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Unexpected bursts of noise, summer heat, crowds, traffic, forced gaiety and coolers of cold beer all contribute.

But many veterans are bothered less by the booms, Sardo said, than the deeper questions the displays raise about what it means to go to war and lose a limb, friends or a view of the world as a healthy place.
go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/10556

Aside from this, it reminded me of a question I get asked a lot.

A lot of veterans have asked how to deal with the fireworks and neighbors shooting them off for hours several nights in a row. This was a big problem for my husband for a long time.

The best thing is to watch them go off. If you stay in the house and only hear them, they tend to make you very jumpy, lead you into rounds of flashbacks along with making it very unpleasant.

When you see with your own eyes where the sound is coming from, it helps take some of the stress off. Otherwise you hear the sound and it reminds you of where you were the last time you heard that kind of sound. Try to go to fireworks displays with someone close to you who is aware of your PTSD. Do not stay in the house with the shades down. You will smell gun powder and hear the sound but without seeing it, they will make their way into your memory. With your senses connected together it will be a little easier to get through these nights.

If you love someone with PTSD try watching my video Hero After War from the side bar of this blog. It will help you understand what they see and what they are going through.